Netcare continues to invest in its KwaZulu-Natal hospitals and focus on quality initiatives aligned to international best practice. This creates an environment that enables the group to remain at the forefront of healthcare delivery and optimise treatment and outcomes for patients.
"In the last 12 months, Netcare has made considerable investments in hospitals within the province, which has enabled us to provide more patients with quality healthcare," notes Ian Goble, regional director for Netcare's coastal region.
These enhancements include a number of expansion projects and upgrades, some of which have recently been completed and others which are expected to be finalised before the middle of next year. Before mid-2016, more than 350 new beds will be available across the eight Netcare hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.
"Netcare St Augustine's Hospital in Berea will see the addition of a new neo-natal intensive care unit, more doctors' consulting suites, an upgrade to the reception area and a new parking deck expected to service additional visitors for patients in the extra beds," says Goble.
"New facilities completed at Netcare St Anne's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg include additional general ward beds, a new four-level doctor's block, additional shaded parking and an upgrade to the theatre complex, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year," adds Goble.
Along the coast, Netcare The Bay Hospital in Richards Bay and Netcare Margate Hospital are expanding their bed capacity early next year in order to accommodate the treatment of more patients. Besides increasing its much-needed bed capacity, Netcare The Bay Hospital will also be adding three new theatres and a cardiac catheterisation laboratory.
At Netcare Parklands Hospital in Overport, a new general ward opened in September 2014, and the upgrade of doctors' suites in the Medical Mews is currently in progress.
In addition, the upgrade of three general wards was completed at Netcare Kingsway Hospital in Amanzimtoti. Further upgrades and expansions expected to be completed before the end of 2016 include additional doctors' consulting suites, an extension of the existing parking deck, the upgrade of two further wards and the addition of 54 new beds. A new entrance road on the south side of the hospital will also improve access to the hospital.
Netcare is also investing heavily in state-of-the-art medical and surgical technology that will ensure patients receive the best possible care. For example, a new hybrid catheterisation laboratory will soon open at Netcare St Augustine's Hospital in Durban. "The theatre will have cutting-edge surgical equipment and advanced imaging technology to precisely guide surgical interventions," explains Goble.
A new Netcare Molecular Imaging and Therapy: Nuclear Medicine Centre at Netcare Umhlanga Hospital now allows doctors to undertake a range of nuclear medicine procedures. For example, a highly sophisticated Lu-177 DOTATATE procedure was recently performed there for the first time in KwaZulu-Natal. Goble explains that the procedure is considered to be the first line of treatment in metastatic and inoperable neuroendocrine tumours and is also known to be effective in paragangliomas, neuroblastomas and certain types of thyroid cancer.
The procedure has significantly fewer side effects and can considerably improve quality of life for patients affected by such tumours.
"At the end of last year, a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility was commissioned at Netcare Alberlito Hospital in Ballito. It has ensured more doctors can non-invasively diagnose certain medical conditions and provide the most appropriate and advanced treatment to our patients," says Goble.
"Netcare continues to make patient care its priority and does so with constant investment in cutting-edge, medical equipment, training and methodology, backed up by outstanding quality care provided by our nursing staff and clinical colleagues. Netcare is a healthcare provider truly leading the way and staying at the forefront of healthcare development," concludes Goble.
Ends
Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare
Contact : Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Sarah Wilson or Meggan Saville
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]